Bennett's four-goal game leads Flames to 6-0 whipping of Panthers

Not anxious to derail his young teammate, Jonas Hiller declined to take any post-practice breakaways Tuesday from Sam Bennett.

After all, the Calgary Flames rookie, just the night before, had halted an 18-game goal drought.

So why dampen the kid’s spirits by stoning him?

“I didn’t want to steal his confidence,” explained Hiller, with a wink and a chuckle. “I guess it paid off.”

Oh, really?

Asked if he was perhaps taking credit for Bennett’s smashing performance Wednesday — four goals in a 6-0 trouncing of the Florida Panthers — Hiller laughed.

“I wish,” he said. “I’m definitely really happy for him. He has so much skill. It’s not easy as a 19-year-old. All eyes are on you. When things don’t go well, it’s tough to find your way out. He definitely found his way. That’s something that really proves he can be a great player in this league.”

Smiling, Bennett confirmed Hiller’s practice-time account.

“He didn’t want to kill my confidence — that’s what he told me,” he said. “We’ll see what happens next practice.”

In-house ribbing aside, No. 93’s turnaround is remarkable.

After ending his slump Monday, he pulled an imaginary monkey off his back and heaved it into the Saddledome stands. It was the fans, two nights later, who were doing the chucking.

Hats. Lots of hats.

“It really is amazing,” Bennett said of his offensive about-face, including a first-period hat trick. “It’s crazy, just from bounces going your way to not going your way. It’s amazing what can happen.

“Now I think I took another step in the right direction.”

And barged his way into the Flames’ record books.

Bennett, 19 years and 207 days old, is the youngest player in franchise history to register a hat trick.

And four goals? He’s the first member of the Flames to do that since February 2003 when someone named Jarome Iginla turned the trick.

About his rookie, coach Bob Hartley offered one word.

“Wow.”

Hard to argue.

Four goals. Plus five.

“Right from the start of that (first) period, it seemed he was flying out there,” said Hartley. “I’m very happy for him. Great performance. He played well. Here’s a kid who’s working so hard, it’s nice to see he’s getting rewarded.”

Also scoring for the Flames, who improved to 20-20-2, were Johnny Gaudreau and Mason Raymond.

Gaudreau’s tally was part of the hosts’ four-goal opening period, which ended the evening of goalie Roberto Luongo.

“This is a very important win, especially the way we played,” said Hartley. “Give credit to Florida — they had quite a road trip. They didn’t have a very good game (Wednesday), but, at the same time, we can’t take any credit away from our players.

“We were first on pucks. We drove the net. We scored some very nice goals. We chased Luongo out of the net. He’s having quite a year for the Panthers. So I’m very proud of our group.”

Despite having only a single blemish in their previous 13 outings — Monday’s overtime setback in Vancouver — the Panthers did not look anything like the league’s hottest outfit.

“We got beat really bad and we deserved every minute of it,” said Florida blue-liner Erik Gudbranson. “You can say what you want about (the 12-game winning streak). I think potentially there was a little bit of arrogance to our game towards the end of that streak. At the end of the day, the only thing I can say is we got our butts handed to us.

“I don’t think anybody’s really felt really good about our game over the past four, five games, so we needed a good spanking like that.”

The Flames, outshooting the guests 36-15, were dominant.

Which, of course, Hiller appreciated.

For a goalie who hadn’t started a game since Dec. 12 — and who, because of injuries and Karri Ramo’s run, had appeared in only three games since Oct. 28 — this served as ideal toe-dipper.

Hiller was perfect en route to his 23rd career shutout.

“That was one of our best efforts for 60 minutes,” said Hiller. “We really didn’t give them anything for the whole game. I think if we play that way, it really doesn’t matter who’s in net. We’ll always have a chance to win.”

Florida Panthers right winger Jaromir Jagr chatted with Calgary Flames goalie Karri Ramo as the teams skated during warmup prior to the NHL game against the Calgary Flames on January 13, 2016. Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Florida Panthers right winger Jaromir Jagr skated during warmup prior to the NHL game against the Calgary Flames on January 13, 2016.Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Florida Panthers centre Corban Knight, from High River, made his return to the Saddledome on Wednesday night.Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Calgary Flames left winger Brandon Bollig applied pressure to Florida Panthers defenceman Brian Campbell during first period NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016. Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Calgary Flames centre Sam Bennett, second from right, celebrated with teammate defenceman Deryk Engelland after scoring his third goal of the game on Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo during first period NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016. Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Calgary Flames defenceman Mark Giordano checked Florida Panthers veteran player right winger Jaromir Jagr during first period NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016. Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Calgary Flames goalie Jonas Hiller fielded a shot by Florida Panthers centre Vincent Trocheck during first period NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016.Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Calgary Flames centre Sam Bennett stood by the bench surrounded by hats after scoring his third goal of the game against the Florida Panthers during first period NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016.Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

The puck slipped past Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo on a shot by Calgary Flames centre Sam Bennett, obsucured as he was checked by Panthers centre Corban Knight, for his third of the game as Flames teammate defenceman Deryk Engelland, left, during first period NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016. Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Calgary Flames players, from left, defenceman Deryk Engelland and centre Matt Stajan celebrated with centre Sam Bennett after Bennett scored his third goal of the game against the Florida Panthers during first period NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016. Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Calgary Flames defenceman Deryk Engelland pushed back against Florida Panthers centre Corban Knight during second period NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016.Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Calgary Flames goalie Jonas Hiller fielded a shot by the Florida Panthers during second period NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016.Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Calgary Flames centre Markus Granlund unleashed a shot on Florida Panthers goalie Al Montoya as defenceman Alex Petrovic provided some support during second period NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016. Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Calgary Flames left winger Mason Raymond, right, celebrated with right winger David Jones after Raymond scored the Flames fifth goal of the game against the Florida Panthers during second period NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016. Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

(File photo) Calgary Flames left winger Micheal Ferland tried to shoot the puck from behind his back against Florida Panthers goalie Al Montoya at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016.Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Florida Panthers goalie Al Montoya looked over his shoulder as a shot by centre Sam Bennett slipped into the net for his fourth of the night during the final seconds of the third period NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016. The Flames shutout the Panthers 6-0 thanks in part to the 4 goals by Bennett.Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Calgary Flames centre Sam Bennett celebrated with teammate Mikael Backlund after scoring his fourth the goal of the game against the Florida Panthers during third period NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016. The Flames shutout the Panthers 6-0 thanks in part to the 4 goals by Bennett.Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

Calgary Flames centre Sam Bennett skated out with a signed stick after being named the first star of the game against the Florida Panthers in NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on January 13, 2016. The Flames shutout the Panthers 6-0 thanks in part to the 4 goals by Bennett. Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald

GAME STORY

At Calgary

Calgary Flames 6, Florida Panthers 0

Herald three stars

1. LW Sam Bennett, Flames … First career hat trick, in 17:01. Adds a sublime fourth tally in the final minute. A plus-4. Quite simply, superb showing from the rookie.

2. D Dougie Hamilton, Flames … Two helpers, including his 100th career point. Plays a solid 18:25, fifth-most on the team.

3. RW Jiri Hudler, Flames … An assist, a plus-three in a return to the lineup after three games away. Could the veteran find his form of last season?

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